"Ginny! You should have told me!" Harry exclaimed as he paced Ginny's empty dorm room; there was only one other 7th year girl who had returned, but she spent most nights sneaking into Hufflepuff to stay the night with her boyfriend. Most nights Ginny spent alone.

"Harry, why would I POSSIBLY tell you this? Hermione is your family, and she dated my brother! This is absolutely the worst possible scenario to be in!"

"Forget about Ron for a minute! I thought we were friends, I can't believe you didn't trust me with this," Harry said as he plopped down onto Ginny's bed, his glasses now laid beside him, and his hair sprawled out in a messy heap. He needed a haircut desperately.

"Oh, don't even, Harry James Potter. You like blokes! And you didn't tell me either!"

"I never said I like blokes!"

"Then what was all the blushing when Neville said he got hard for you?!"

"It was flattering! And besides, there are way worse wizards than Neville to fancy! And stop turning this on me!"

"Fine!" Ginny exclaimed dramatically. "I didn't tell you because it's none of your business! If I'm asking permission it should be from Ron, my brother, but he's a git. Plus, she doesn't even fancy me back! You saw her run out of the room!"

"Merlin, Gin. Everything scares Hermione, especially the unknown," Harry said with a palpable awkwardness. "She's terrifying when she needs to be, but her bravery has always been for the sake of others. Merlin, she let us walk all over her for years, but the second anyone had anything to say about us and she was at our sides, you don't need anyone's permission when it comes to her."

"Yeah, Hermione is utterly terrifying," Ginny muttered, replaying the doe eyed look she gave Ginny before grabbing her clothes and running from the common room.

"Just, give her time. Even if she doesn't feel the same, she'll tell you eventually. Her heart is too big to let that guilt sit."

Ginny let out a deep sigh before sitting on her bed next to Harry, crossing her legs while she ran her fingers through her hair. "You're right. I just… ugh I freaked out tonight. I wish I hadn't even said anything!"

"Well why did you?" Harry asked, turning to Ginny with a look of genuine curiosity.

"She's just… beautiful. And I got overwhelmed with her half naked. And then she was looking at me! We haven't spoken in weeks before tonight, and she bloody looks at me and I become a mess!" Ginny responded, growing breathless as she continued her explanation before laying down next to Harry.

"You haven't spoken in weeks? She didn't mention that..."

"It was just… ugh, probably another situation I screwed up."

"Well, what'd you do then to make her avoid you?"

"I ran into her after leaving the dungeons one night…"

"You hang out with Slytherins?" Harry interrupted suddenly.

"Yes, Harry. Luna is dating Blaise. We hang out with his friends," Ginny sighed as she waited to get back to her story.

"You hang out with Malfoy?! Death Eater Malfoy!" Harry exclaimed, his face turning red as he spoke.

"Oh, sod off, Harry, he was 16. You spoke at his trial to dismiss the charges!"

"Well, that doesn't mean I expected you to be friends with him," he grumbled in response. "Just that he didn't deserve Azkaban.."

Ginny let out a snort, "I'd hardly say I'm friends with Malfoy. Now can I continue?"

"Yes-yes, sorry…."

"So, I was coming back from the dungeons and heard Filch coming… Hermione was coming back from the library under your cloak, and we hid until he passed."

"How did the both of you fit under the cloak? It was getting difficult for us in third year…"

"She sort of, erm… pushed me against the wall and used the cloak to block us?" Ginny said, observing an impressed look on Harry's face as he considered how Hermione had managed to cover them both.

"Did you get caught?"

"No… she… she said my eyes were pretty. And I thought about kissing her. I wanted to. But she must have realized how bad the situation was, because she moved away as if nothing happened. And then didn't speak to me for weeks… well, until tonight."

"So, she stopped talking to you because you were going to kiss her?"

"No, she didn't know I wanted to kiss her."

"Okay... I don't understand what happened?"

"Harry! Girls don't just say other girls' eyes are pretty! And then stare at each other!"

"Oh, right?"

"Merlin. You're useless."

"Probably. Never could tell when someone was interested… anyway, can I stay here? Don't think Hermione will let me crash with her now. And this conversation is weirdly personal."

Ginny let out a deep sigh and enlarged her bed with her wand before setting it down and getting under the covers.

"Oh, and Ginny?"

"What, Harry?" Ginny said again, growing agitated despite the nerves from her open secret dissipating some tension.

"I, um… I told Hermione I'd ask Cedric to be her date to the Remembrance Ball."


Hermione had been avoiding Ginny. Again.

But she couldn't help it. She was utterly confused and caught off guard last month. Hermione hadn't even said goodbye to Harry, she just opened and closed her mouth like a bass before running to the 8th Year corridor half naked.

She had to give Ginny credit though, because the girl was not avoiding Hermione. It had been easy to avoid Ginny last time, because the she wanted to avoid Hermione as well. But her admission must have given her just a little more Gryffindor courage. And Hermione was finding it difficult not to have an actual conversation with Ginny when the witch was refilling her tea at meals or handing her harder to reach potions ingredients in class.

Somehow, Ginny had managed to toe the line between being pushy and being sweet. Hermione surmised she might have felt the girl to be overbearing if it were anyone else, but found herself enjoying the attentions from someone who truly fancied her.

Maybe she did like Ginny? Or maybe she could?

She had run round and round this with Neville, he'd present an example of how it could work, and Hermione would offer five why it wouldn't. Hermione had just never thought she might be gay was all. She thought girls were pretty, some were even fit. And she had kissed Cho once in 6th year for a dare. And it definitely wasn't a bad kiss, but she was in love with Ron at that point and completely heartbroken at the unreciprocated feelings, so it didn't seem fair to say it was good when it was possibly to make him jealous. And she had gotten a weird feeling in her stomach when she'd visit Ginny in the locker room after a Quidditch match, but she'd always assumed it was just because she knew she shouldn't be there.

Neville tried to convince Hermione she liked witches, maybe even a little. She could just be bisexual, that was what he had called it. And Hermione wasn't against it, she was used to being a little different, it just… was a change. And something she didn't know much about, and she hated it.

She hated being unsure. Hated not knowing everything.

So, she ran. And keeps running whenever Ginny opens her mouth to say something. The proximity she's gotten over, but the talking? No. The talking she wasn't ready for.

Harry had tried to talk to Hermione about it before he left, but she couldn't face him. No way.

Ginny was his first love! And he was like her brother!

Just the thought of that awkward conversation was enough to make her hide under her covers the next morning as he knocked at her door.

Harry had written her over the course of the month since that night. She skimmed the letters and never responded. She didn't know what to say to him. He mostly was checking in on her, asking if she wanted to talk. But with her ignoring the letters, he must have decided to go all in, asking her directly on her feelings for Ginny, on what she wanted to do.

Hermione knew she was just… ill-informed on the topic of her sexuality, maybe even sexuality in general. She'd get all the facts first. Learn whatever she could before trying to discuss it with others.

So, like every other problem she encountered, she first went to the library.

What a piss poor idea that had been.

A library had never failed her. Never. But the wizarding world was still a little backwards, still set in their traditional ways. So, when she searched the library for any sort of information regarding sexuality, the most she found was a small section of books regarding sex rituals.

She read them anyway, despite quickly realizing they were not what she needed.

The books were interesting, but Hermione knew the Hogwarts library was a bust. She realized she'd have to go to a muggle bookstore and try her luck there, which probably should have been the first place she looked if she were being completely honest. But she thought she maybe didn't want to be honest with herself, about anything right now. After a day of internal conflict regarding research, Hermione eventually conceded to try muggle literature.

Hermione would apparate to Edinburgh during a Hogsmeade weekend to find some books and a gown for the Remembrance Ball. Despite the absolutely abysmal night, Harry kept his word and spoke to Cedric. They had written each other a few letters, mostly catching up since the end of the war and reminiscing on their time in school.

Cedric was kind, and as attractive as ever, but Hermione found him to be rather… plain, and far too similar to Harry, leaving her uncomfortable. But she gave him a chance all the same and hoped that maybe this feeling was just a rebound, it would be easier if it were.

So, Hermione found a gown, and a small stack of books, and continued reading whatever she could, and writing to Cedric when able. The ball was only a couple weeks away, and the more she learned, the worse she felt.


After that night, Ginny had been determined to make things as normal as possible for Hermione. Or as normal as possible for someone who was desperately in love with their female friend who was definitely, probably not, into girls.

Hermione still wasn't talking to her, but she wasn't running from the area whenever Ginny was nearby either. That could be considered a win, right?

So, instead of talking to each other like normal people, Ginny found herself showing Hermione that things were okay, that they would be.

When Hermione's tea was empty, Ginny was there to refill it, when Hermione was the last one to the potions cabinet, Ginny made sure she had adequate ingredients. And when Hermione spilled her ink pot, she was always quick to clean it before her parchment stained.

Ginny knew the situation was weird for Hermione, but they had been friends forever, and she was determined to ensure that relationship was okay above anything else.

And though Ginny felt like she was being overbearing, she knew there was a fine line between being kind and being… obsessive. So, she decided to give a little extra distance leading up to the Remembrance Ball, leaving her entirely nervous when the event finally arrived. Ginny had tried to take her time getting ready tonight. She spent some time straightening her hair, a few extra moments doing her makeup, but still found herself completely ready with an hour to spare.

She had thought about sitting in the common room and waiting for Harry to arrive, but then remembered that Hermione would probably finish getting ready early too, and the thought of running into her made her stomach heave. So, Ginny ran to the dungeons where she knew Luna would be, and hoped a younger student would let her in. After waiting outside the entrance for a few moments, she eventually conceded to knocking and telling a second year to grab one of the 8th years. Draco eventually let her in, and now she sat with he and Theo near the fire waiting for the rest to finish changing.

"I haven't spoken to her since that night, just gotten her tea and cleaned ink and such, it's not that weird," Ginny said to the two Slytherins.

"How'd she look naked?" Theo asked with a waggle of his eyebrows, making Ginny roll her eyes in disbelief. Bloody boys.

"She's Hermione Granger, she was bloody fit, what do you think?" Ginny snapped at him.

"Granger would manage to ensure perfection in all aspects, unsurprising," Draco said, his back to the group as he conjured some glasses.

"Well, the tea thing is definitely weird. Maybe creepy. Even I wouldn't do that for a witch," Theo responded, before shooting a look to Draco as if seeking confirmation.

"That's one of many reasons why no witch's family will agree to let their daughter marry you," Draco said with a soft laugh before pouring three shots of firewhiskey. "I think you'll be fine, Weaslette. Granger will tell you to back off, that witch is a lot of things, but spineless isn't one of them."

Ginny took one of the glasses from Draco and quickly drank the spirit, feeling it warm her chest almost immediately. She pushed the glass back towards Draco, shaking it slightly as she signaled a refill. He flashed a quick smile and topped off their glasses once again before taking a seat in the velvet green chair, sitting slowly to ensure his dress robes remained wrinkle free.

"So, what's your plan for tonight then?" he asked after taking a drink from his glass.

"There is no plan, she's bringing Cedric as her date, and I'm going with Harry."

"You and Potter back together then?" Theo questioned, an inquisitive look on his face as he studied her, obviously running through the last 30 minutes of conversation.

"Not even a little. I think the original plan was to treat it as a sort of double date… if it was a group situation then it wouldn't be so awkward if things between her and Cedric didn't go well."

"Some plan that turned out to be," Draco said with another laugh.

"Bloody right… Harry said they're arriving about an hour late though, his Auror training runs long today. Mind if I crash your group until then? I can't imagine standing around in silence with Hermione until they get here," Ginny asked the wizards desperately.

"Well you're already here, Weaslette. I wasn't planning on escorting you back to your tower," Draco said sarcastically.

"Why would Ginny go back to Gryffindor?" Ginny heard in an unmistakably airy voice.

"I'm not going back to Gryffindor, Luna. I just asked if they minded me crashing your party while I waited for Harry."

"Ah, well I don't mind. Neither does Blaise. But I think Hermione may get lonely."

Ginny let out a sigh, many believed Luna to be a bit air-headed, but Ginny knew she knew what she was doing. Luna was Ravenclaw after all.

"Luna. You know I can't see Hermione. Not after that night."

"Yes, but what's one more weird night with Hermione. I think it might be your thing."

"I don't want weird encounters to be our thing," Ginny said and rubbed her temples to ward off the growing headache.

"Wrap up the pity party, I'm not fixing your makeup," Pansy said as she left the 8th year corridor, "now get up, we're already late."


Hermione had spent approximately 52 minutes standing in her room, staring at the door, before Neville begged her to join him. She had been ready for hours of course, but was waiting for Harry and Cedric to arrive, she felt it might be rude to go to the dance before her date.

But after another 13 minutes of begging, Hermione decided to go with Neville to the Great Hall and wait for her date there. Her weeks of research on sexuality explained all kinds of sexuality and what they all meant, but nothing really helped Hermione find an answer that felt right to herself. There wasn't a phrase that was easy to define what she felt, and that unknown scared her. How could she understand what she felt if she couldn't even understand herself? Where did that leave her? Where did that leave Ginny?

Hermione realized the irony in that first night when Ron broke up with her, the crying to Ginny over not knowing who she was, the even more confusion that followed for months later. She knew she liked being around Ginny.

It was easy.

She had spent weeks at the Burrow. The two could spend hours talking, or even fall into a comfortable silence after a long day. Ginny's personality meshed well with Hermione's. She was strong, willing to stand up for herself, but still managed to compromise when necessary. She was agreeable but fierce.

But most importantly, after years of fighting to be what Ron wanted, what he needed, and still falling short; Ginny managed to make Hermione feel like she was enough, like she had always been enough.

Ginny made her feel whole, safe, and secure. And Hermione found herself seeking the comforts only Ginny had provided, sought the burning in her chest when Ginny looked at her.

And try as she might, Hermione knew that she had never seen anyone as beautiful as Ginny. Hermione first noticed in the hallway under the invisibility cloak, but felt it with her entire being the night in the Common Room. Ginny was beautiful, and Hermione wanted to study her like a painting, observing the intricate details that made her entirely unique.

She knew that what she felt for Ginny must be more than platonic, but she didn't know how to address it. And she didn't know if she had blown her chance entirely by running from her again. So, for nearly two weeks Hermione had been allowing herself to build the courage to act like a proper adult once and for all. To finally try to be mature and honest about what she might be feeling. And she was going to do what she said she was, she was going to actually date.

So, Hermione had decided to give Cedric a fair chance, he was a great pen pal, and was thoroughly educated in a plethora of fields, Hermione couldn't help but admit he was fascinating. And tomorrow, Hermione would talk to Ginny for the first time in ages and ask her to the next Hogsmeade weekend. She would have to muster up all the Gryffindor courage she could and be completely honest with them both, admitting she wanted to casually date.

It was already something she had told Cedric, and he was completely understanding, it would be hard to be serious when she was at school for another term anyway. But she knew how Ginny felt, and she wasn't sure how Ginny would feel when all was said and done.

But she needed to be honest, and needed to give herself the opportunities she deserved.

So, when she entered the hall with Neville and spotted the lithe redhead in a long satin black gown, her stomach seized in on itself, and she knew if she didn't talk to her now, she might never.

Hermione walked over to Ginny before her brain could catch up to say what a poor idea it was. Ginny was grabbing some bottles of butterbeer but immediately stopped following Hermione's arrival.

"Hello, Hermione," she said in a slightly surprised tone, her pupils dilating as she studied Hermione's figure wrapped in red, long sleeves to cover her scars.

"Ginny," Hermione responded bravely, "will you dance with me?"

Hermione watched as Ginny's eyes widened before placing the drinks back down on the table. She grabbed the girls hand and could feel her throat constrict as she tried to remember how to breathe. Hermione forced herself to remember she was a Gryffindor, she had fought in a war, she had looked death in the face, she was brave. She could dance with a girl she liked.

That pep talk worked for all of 45 seconds until she found a clearing on the dance floor and faced Ginny.

How did she dance with a girl? Where did her arms go? Where did her arms go?

Ginny looked at Hermione with a timid smile and reached out to grab her hands. Hermione watched Ginny as she moved to place Hermione's arms on Ginny's shoulders and felt the weight of Ginny's own around her waist.

Hermione felt her throat open and the unease in her stomach loosen. She felt better, grounded.

She began to sway with the girl, a Weird Sisters song blaring in the background. Ginny was wearing heels, and Hermione was slightly amazed at the difference it made in height.

"How are you?" Ginny asked her, eyelashes covering most of her eyes as she did her best to not look too directly at her.

"I've been good. Thinking."

"Well, that's not surprising," Ginny responded with a gentle smile. "Anything specifically?"

"Yes... I don't want to run away from you anymore, Ginny. I like the way I feel with you. But… I'm confused, and I don't understand it, or us." Hermione said in a whisper, glancing up to the witch and watching the understanding cross her features.

"I understand, Hermione. This won't change how we are; we can still be friends; I don't want this to be weird. But thanks for letting me know," and Ginny forced another smile.

"Ginny. I want to try. I don't know what I'm doing, or even who I am. I'm not saying it'll be anything serious, or that it'll be easy. But do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"

"Umm, yes? Yes. I'd like that," Ginny said, and Hermione could feel the tension leave her shoulders immediately.

"Fantastic," Hermione responded earnestly.

The two continued to dance, and Hermione felt comfortable despite the growing awareness of what she was doing with Ginny. She could feel Neville's eyes boring into her back and did her best to ignore the warmth threatening to flood her cheeks. But all those worries slipped away when she looked up to see Ginny staring back at her, always as if the rest of the world didn't exist, as if nothing mattered but Hermione.

A cough behind them broke her concentration, and Hermione pulled away from Ginny to see Harry glancing back.

"Hello, you two. Didn't realize you had stolen my date," Harry said to Hermione with a wink. She felt her face redden at his words and tried to put more distance between her and Ginny, especially once she saw Cedric standing behind Harry.

"Oh hello, Cedric! Glad you both could come! Right Ginny?" Hermione asked with a squeak to her voice, and she heard both Harry and Ginny let out a small laugh at her expense.

"Right, wouldn't miss it!" Cedric said to Hermione, and she felt him pull her in for a hug. The hug was warm, and he smelled like bergamot. Her face was growing red again, she knew it, and she was once again very aware of the awkwardness of causal dating. How did people do this?

"Umm, should we get drinks then?" She asked the group and moved toward the refreshments. Hermione knew there wouldn't be anything alcoholic, but she also knew Harry or Seamus was sure to have something for her punch if she asked. She quickly handed out drinks to the group and without even asking, Harry pulled a bronze flask from his dress robes and poured a splash in their cups before announcing a subtle, "cheers!"

Hermione swallowed the drink quickly, ready for the spirit to help ease the growing tension of the night.

The group had a relatively fun night, with little to no awkwardness, just dancing and laughs. Hermione was engulfed by Cedric's stories about his time at the Ministry, and the new regulations he was helping to enact. His ideas were solid and were sure to make a difference to the wizarding world. But after a few hours of standing in her heels, the cushioning charm was beginning to wear off and she was growing tired.

"I think I'm going to call it a night, but this was fun! Hopefully you two can plan another trip here soon?" she asked the wizards as she made to stand and leave for the night.

"Right! Let me walk you?" Cedric asked Hermione as he stood as well, casting a nod to Harry and Ginny.

"No, no, we'll join you. I need to get off anyway, got to see Sirius in the morning," Harry said, and he offered a hand to Ginny, pulling her from her seat.

The group walked back to Gryffindor tower, though Hermione was sure it took twice as long as she dragged her sore feet across the castle. Once they finally arrived at the Fat Lady's portrait, Hermione thought she may have lost a toe, and was ready to lay in bed for the remainder of the weekend, maybe even the week.

"Commemini," she said to the Fat Lady and watched as the door swung open, "Well... this was lovely, but I desperately need to get out of these heels," she said to Cedric with a small smile. "Goodnight, Harry, I'll write you soon."

"Goodnight, Hermione, thank you for letting me escort you tonight," Cedric said before placing a chaste kiss to her lips. Hermione was momentarily stunned, she hadn't expected him to kiss her, though she supposed it was daft to assume otherwise.

The kiss was warm, but slightly wet, and overall average. Maybe better than kissing Ron, but not by much.

But it was the look on Ginny's face that made the situation truly leave an impact. Her eyebrows were scrunched in distaste, but a trying smile was on her lips as though she may convince herself she was happy.

"Yes, umm, goodnight," Hermione said as she nearly threw herself through the portrait, letting it close behind her, unsure if Ginny had even managed to get through. It didn't matter, she needed a minute. A few minutes.

Hermione kicked her heels off and scooped them from the floor before nearly sprinting to her room. Once she found the familiar wooden door, she pushed it open, removing the now constricting dress from her body, it felt suffocating as she thought about the kiss, about the look on Ginny's face as it happened.

It wouldn't have been a bad kiss she supposed, if the situation weren't the way it was. Cedric was a gentleman, and was well read and interesting, but he was unexciting, and the kiss was… bland. She wanted a fire in her core, she wanted need and desperation for more.

She wanted that.

She deserved that.

But would she get that?


The portrait closed abruptly as Hermione escaped from the hall, and Ginny felt a bile rise in her throat at the thought of Hermione kissing Cedric. She said a quick goodbye without looking at the two wizards and walked back to her room as if on autopilot.

What had gone wrong? Hermione had asked her to Hogsmeade, and she knew that she still had Cedric as a date, but she thought that maybe it was as friends? As her and Harry had gone? Why else would she ask her?

But the kiss caught her off guard, it wasn't how things were supposed to go, not when Hermione was willing to give it a chance.

Hermione wasn't one to go back on what she said, but it felt hard all the same. Ginny fancied Hermione. She had for years, but knowing Hermione had been almost hers but now was gone made it hard. How had it all gone wrong so fast?

Once at her room, Ginny took the satin dress off, placed it on a hanger and put on a large Holyhead Harpies t-shirt and a pair of plain cotton knickers. She was ready for bed, to just soak and mope in the heartbreak she was beginning to feel.

This was worse than when Hermione wasn't talking to her, worse than when they had avoided each other for weeks. Because she couldn't blame Hermione now, she had been honest about what was to happen, Ginny just got her hopes up.

She laid in bed and stared at the ceiling while her roommate changed, throwing clothes into a bag to take to her boyfriend's room. Ginny felt jealous suddenly. She was completely alone tonight; the darkness was there to remind her of that. The room was quiet after a while, and Ginny's thoughts cleared as she realized the witch had left, though she wasn't sure how long it had been. Ginny tried to consider how she could face Hermione without her feelings betraying her, should Ginny see other people as well? Would that make things less awkward; would it help her move on from the intense feelings she got whenever Hermione was around?

A knock broke her thoughts once again, and she threw her feet to the ground, slowly dragging them across the cold floor.

Once she opened the door, the light from the hall blurred her vision as she adapted to the sharp contrast in lighting.

"Ginny!" she heard a voice say breathlessly, Hermione. She'd know the voice anywhere, and her chest cleaved again at the silent reminder at what she felt.

But Ginny was pushed backwards into her room again, the door closing hard when warm hands were placed on her cheeks.

The kiss was sudden. Earth shattering and all encompassing. It was warm.

And lit Ginny on fire.

This kiss was everything she had waited for. Hermione was all she had wanted. And the growing need was unquenchable.

Ginny wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist, pulling her close, their bodies molding against each other as Hermione's tongue began to seek entrance. Ginny opened immediately to her and allowed her tongue to work in tandem with Hermione's, as her hand moved to the messy curls, fingers wrapping into a fist at the girl's scalp.

This kiss would be the death of her, because now that she had a taste of Hermione Granger, Ginny knew she would never been the same.